Milk cartons, etc.



Nov. 3, 1959 J. c. MERCER 2,911,135

' MILK cARToNs, ETC

Filed July 29, 195'? IN VEN TOR. ./oH/v 6.' /Vf/QcE/P lg/L2 ,4T Top/Vey lVIILK CARTONS, ETC.

Application July 29, 1957, Serial No. 674,782

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) My invention relates to containers for liquid such as milk, orange juice, etc., that is particularly put up( for domestic consumption.

One object of my invention is to provide a one-piece i structure that can be made from a one-piece cardboard blank or the ylike and which can nevertheless be more effectively opened and closed for repeated pourings therefrom than various types of containers heretofore employed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container of the character referred to which when after itis opened will be more sanitary than various types heretofore employed, by reason ofthe improved cover which I employ. l l

Another object of my invention is to provide a onepiece blank for forming a complete container, that can be shipped in the at condition and readily opened up at the dairy for the reception of a liquid and which can Y be thereafter sealed in an improved manner.

Figure 1 is a view of the blank from which the container is formed.

Fig. 2 shows the blank folded to form a container, but with the top aps open. y

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showing the upper portion of the completed carton after it has been opened for the pouring of liquid therefrom.

Fig. 4 shows the structure of Fig. 3 closed.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View takenl on the line of 6--6 of Fig. 4.

The blank comprises panel portions 2, 3, 4 and 5, the panel 5 having a wing or lip 6 that is glued to the inner surface of the panel 2, as shown in Fig. 2.

The bottom aps 7, 8, 9 and 10 on the lower ends of the panels are folded inwardly and glued together to provide the closed bottom for thecontainer.

The panel 3 has a top flap 21 that is secured in closed position by lips 18, 22 and 28 which are glued to the panels 4, 2 and 5, respectively, when closing the container. The milk or other fluid can be filled into the container before closing this top ap 21, or can be lled Vthrough the pouring opening 20 after the ap is secured in place. The lip 28 on the cover member 21 is upturned at its rear edge and sealed to the panel 5 shown line at 23. This not only provides a good seal at that.

' United States Patent O 2,911,135 Patented Nov. 3,` 1959 ICC corner of the container, but gives a stiffening whereby a sealing roller that moves along the groove 25 is enabled to make a good seal at 19. The depression 24 in the side wall 5, as shown in Fig. 5 serves to support the inner cover member 21 from dropping.

The top cover member 11 has wing 14 thatis glued to the side wall 4. kA perforated line 15 is provided where the member 17 and the member 14 meet so that the outer corner of the member 17 can be lifted from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3 and pouring effected through the opening 20. The cover member 17 has a depression 16 that serves as a cork or stopper for the opening 20` through the inner cover member 21. This opening could, of course, be circular. vAfter -a container has been opened, the cover .member 17', when closed, will be lightly held against flapping upwardly by some snap action at 23-29, (Fig. 5).

Initially, there need not be an actual opening at 20 but there can be a disc-like area supported thereat by weakened lines, until the customer raises the upper lid. There is, thus no danger of leakage since the inner cover is connected at all four edges to the vertical walls of the container.

After the container has been opened through the lifting of the upper cover portion 17, the disc member at 20 will be torn out to form the pouring opening. Even after the container has been partially emptied, danger of leakage is minimized because of the plug-like member 16 that is pushed into the opening 20.

I claim as my invention:

1. A container of cardboard or the like for liquids, that comprises a body portion having four vertical panels and closed at its lower end, two superposed cover aps secured to the upper edges of the panels, the lower liap having a pouring opening therethrough adjacent to an upper corner of the container and the' upper ap serving as a closure for the opening, a downturned lip on the upper ap and secured to one of the vertical walls adjacent to the said opening, the lip being connected to its iiap by a weakened tear line, and a second downturned li-p carried by the upper ap in position to engage against the other vertical wall at said corner and having a horizontal yieldable rib on its inner face, the last-named vertical wall having a horizontal depression into which said rim will enterrwith a snap action upon closing movement of the upper flap, the last-named iiap being bendable upwardly at said corner, along a diagonal line that extends from one lip to the other adjacent to the mid zone of the flap, in order to expose the pouring opening when the tear line is ruptured and the said rib raised from said depression.

2. A container as recited in claim l, wherein the bendable portion of the ap has a plug-like closure element at it'srunderside in position to enter the said pouring References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,470,388 Ball May 17, 1949 2,671,596 Taylor Mar. 9, 1954 2,751,136 Moore June 19, 1956 2,775,388 Nerenberg Dec. 25, 1956 

